Toasted Almond Crepes With Preserved Duck And Sherry Vinegar Apricot Sauce Recipes

TOASTED ALMOND CREPES WITH PRESERVED DUCK AND SHERRY VINEGAR APRICOT SAUCE

Steps:

• Sprinkle the legs with salt and mixed spices on both sides. Place in a large baking dish cover and place in the refrigerator for 24 hours. Remove the legs from the refrigerator and scrape off the salt and spices. Preheat broiler. Place thighs on a baking sheet, skin side up. Broil for 5 to 6 minutes or until the skin is browned. Place legs in a medium saucepan and cover with the duck fat, add the juniper berries. Bring the fat to a simmer and cook over low heat for 2 1/2 hours. Place the legs in a medium crock and strain the fat over the duck to cover with the fat. Let the duck come to room temperature and place in the refrigerator, for at least 1 week. Remove the duck from the refrigerator and let come to room temperature. Place some of the fat in a large saute pan and heat until almost smoking. Add the thighs and cook until the legs become brown and very crisp.
• Remove the skin, chop and continue cooking until golden brown and crispy to make cracklings. Remove the meat from the bone and shred.
• In a mixing bowl, combine the flours, baking powder, a pinch of salt and honey. In a separate bowl, combine the egg, milk and melted butter, add to the dry ingredients and mix well.
• Heat a griddle or cast iron frying pan over high heat and drop the batter by 1/4 cups into the pan to make 4 (5-inch) pancakes. Cook pancakes until brown on both sides and set aside.
• In olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat, add the shallots and garlic and cook until soft. Increase heat to high, add the wine and sherry vinegar and cook until completely reduced. Add the stock and reduce to 2 cups, whisk in the butter. Add the apricots.
• Assemble: Place shredded duck meat in the center of each pancake and fold over. Drizzle with the Sherry-Apricot sauce and garnish with the cracklings.

SHERRY ROSEMARY APRICOT JAM

Steps:

• Wash 2 pint jars (or a few half-pint jars) so that they are ready to go when your preserves are ready to be canned.
• Add the apricots to the boiling water in a bowl along with 1/2 cup sherry and the rosemary sprigs. Let soak until the apricots are rehydrated, about 30 minutes. Strain the apricots, reserving 1/2 cup of the liquid. Add the apricots, reserved liquid and lemon zest to a large non-reactive pan. Stir in the pectin.
• Bring the mixture to a boil and add the sugar, lemon juice, chopped rosemary and remaining 1/4 cup sherry. Boil until the sugar is dissolved and the jam is thick (you can check by spooning the jam onto the back of a wooden spoon; if you can run your finger through it without it spreading, it is good!) for 20 to 30 minutes.
• Transfer the cooked jam to the jars. Let the jam cool to room temperature. Serve right away, or keep in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

LUSCIOUS CHEESE CREPES WITH APRICOT SAUCE

Steps:

• In blender process milk, eggs, melted butter or margarine, sugar and vanilla until blended.
• Add flour and process until smooth.
• In omlet pan or 8" skillet sprayed with cooking spray, pour 1/4 cup batter and tilt pan to allow batter to coat bottom.
• Cook over medium heat 1 minute or until cooked.
• Loosen edges and turn onto plate; keep warm.
• Repeat with remaining batter.
• Evenly spread cream cheese down center of each crepe; sprinkle with toasted almonds, roll up and set aside.
• In same skillet, bring remaining butter or margarine, preserves and liqueur to a boil.
• Reduce heat to low and add crepes.
• Cook spooning sauce over crepes, 1 minute or until crepes are heated through.
• Sprinkle with toasted almonds.
• Carefully slide crepes onto serving platter and serve immediately.

GRILLED RACK OF PORK WITH SHERRY VINEGAR BBQ SAUCE

Steps:

• Combine 10 cups water, 1/2 cup kosher salt, brown sugar, mustard seeds, peppercorns, thyme and onions in a large glass bowl or a plastic container. Add the pork, cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours and up to 12 hours. Thirty minutes before grilling, remove the pork from the brine, rinse with cold water, pat dry and let sit out at room temperature.
• Prepare a charcoal grill for direct and indirect cooking.
• Combine the paprika, cumin, mustard, fennel, the remaining 4 teaspoons salt and ground pepper in a bowl. Rub the pork with the spices and drizzle with canola oil. Sear the pork over direct heat on both sides until lightly golden brown and a crust has formed, about 5 minutes per side. Move the pork over indirect heat (inside of grill should be at about 375 degrees F) and cook, brushing with the Sherry Vinegar BBQ Sauce every 5 minutes or so, until a thermometer inserted in the center registers 145 degrees F, about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Brush with the sauce every 10 minutes or so after the first 45 minutes.
• Remove from the grill, loosely tent with foil and let rest 15 minutes before slicing. You can either slice into individual chops, or slice the loin off the bones and thinly slice.
• Combine the ketchup, vinegar, chicken stock, brown sugar, mustard, paprika and thyme in a medium saucepan and simmer over medium heat until reduced by half. Season with salt, pepper and honey. Let cool to room temperature.